Unsettling Mormonism
an archive of unsettling histories, mythistories, and mystories
from U.S. & Mormon settler colonialism, white supremacy, and imperialism
from U.S. & Mormon settler colonialism, white supremacy, and imperialism
Chosen Whiteness and Indigenous Erasure in Mormonism, pt. 2: Lamanite Placement Program, 1954-20006/28/2022  collage by nicholas b jacobsen “Above all the problems the Indian has, his greatest one is the white man” - Spencer W. Kimball, 1953 The first Mormon missions were to Indigenous nations or as Mormons call them, Lamanites nations. Mormons carried these missions into their manifest destined Zion in the west where they worked to assimilate, enslave, or massacre Indigenous peoples there. These assimilation practices are rooted in the Mormon teaching that Indigenous Peoples and white Mormons share an ancestor in the ancient House of Israel. Similarly, mormons called their enslavement practice "adoption".
This “adoption” practice later morphed into the Lamanite Placement Program (LPP) or Indian Student Placement Program, (1950’s-2000) in which more than 20,000 Indigenous children (from about 63 different tribes in so-called North America, though mostly Diné) were baptized and placed with white, Mormon families for the duration of the school year, every year, until the child graduated or left the program. "The children in the home-placement program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation. These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness... One white elder jokingly said that he and his companion were donating blood in hopes of accelerating the process.” - Spencer W. Kimball, GC, Oct 1960 In Mormon-written articles, the “success” of the program is measured by how white / Mormon the participants became. Mormon missions, temple weddings, and BYU attendance are all marked as successes. (There was no difference in economic success between participants and their reservation-raised peers)
Seven percent of LPP participants identified themselves as “mostly white” or “totally white.” Their peers who were raised on the reservation were twice as likely to feel that they “completely fit in” with their own people. Assimilation is genocide. One author notes the “undoubtedly well-meaning” motives of the program’s organizers. But these “well-meaning” motives are exactly the problem. How well meaning can you be when rather than acknowledging the cultural / economic / ecological genocide that you’ve enacted on a people, you instead build a program to finish the job, to “Kill the Indian, save the Mormon." And then pat yourself on the back for it. In an NPR podcast on the Lamanite Placement Program, a Mormon man asks: "What is culture? And when is it good and when is it bad? And what's sacred about it? My grandmother came from Denmark." He continues, "She gave up her complete culture to come to America and be a member of The Church. Is that wrong? Is that bad? Which culture did these children give up? Did they give up their original culture where they had the gospel of Jesus Christ in their life? Or did they give up another culture that they came to when they left the gospel of Jesus Christ?" These “undoubtedly well-meaning” “nice white” people are the definition of White Saviorism. There is so much more that could be said about this program and its impact on the Indigenous peoples, like the on-brand cases of sexual assault filed by a few Diné against the church. One individual told his case manager that he was being beat and sexually abused who didn’t show up for 6 months and his boy scout master. Neither did anything. The abuse continued. We could also talk about Indigenous resistance like the American Indian Movement and how they fought the LPP in congress and boycotted the 1973 general conference, beating drums, and demanding that the church donate ten million dollars to Indian social programs and return the native skulls held in the church’s history museum.
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 collage by nicholas b jacobsen “And behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof.” - 3 Nephi 19:25 In the early 1800’s, when Joseph Smith was a boy, it was a common for the everyday white-supremacist of the time to believe that some ancient white people emigrated to this land long-ago, but were eventually wiped out by the ancestors of contemporary Indigenous People. This belief is rooted in their white-supremacist ideologies which say that only white people can build the kinds of structures, cultures, and civilizations that Europeans witnessed in the earthworks of the Moundbuilder nations and temples of Maya, Inca, Aztecs, and Olmecs. This white-supremacist logic lives not only in the Book of Mormon but in the popular conspiracy theories of "Ancient Aliens". In this mythistry, the existence of these structures IS proof that some ancient white people have been here. So the next questions become: What happened to these Peoples? Where are they now? As a record of its time, the 19th century, the Book of Mormon imagines answers to these questions. The Book of Mormon introduces itself as "a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas, the [white] Nephites and the [dark] Lamanites." After centuries of war the Nephites are completely wiped out by the Lamanites who "are among the ancestors* of the American Indians." (*until 2007 this text read, “the principle ancestors”)
The main storyline of the Book of Mormon begins with Lehi’s family who are described as a “white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome" people. They are Chosen by God to populate and replenish this Promised Land. This family arrives around 600 B.C. and shortly split into two groups: Nephites and Lamanites. The Nephites “were generally more righteous than” the Lamanites, who rebelled against their God, father, and brothers. The Lamanites "were led by their evil nature (and) they became wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness; feeding upon beasts of prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the wilderness."  collage feat image two women playing Indian by playing Nephites and Lamanites at the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Image is from Leticia Alvarado's "Abject performances" To keep the "generally more righteous" Nephites from intermarrying with these evil-natured Lamanites, God cursed the Lamanites. "As they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome that they might not be enticing unto (the Nephites) the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon (the Lamanites)." God went on to warn the Nephites that if any of "the seed of (the Nephites) mixeth with (Lamanite) seed ... they shall be cursed" with the same "skin of blackness" curse. But this white God is a merciful white-supremacist, so he makes the Lamanites and their posterity, "the American Indians," an “optimistic promise." If the Lamanites or "American Indians" forsake their People’s lifeways and accept the Book of Mormon as their history and Mormonism as their religion then “they shall (become) a pure and a delightsome People," “white like unto the Nephites,” who are “a civil and delightsome People.”  "Joseph Preaching to the Indians" by C. C. A. Christensen from "Mormon Panorama," 1865 So, basically, Mormonism teaches that contemporary Indigenous Peoples are descendants of ancient white Israelis who lost their rights to this so-called Promised Land when they were cursed with "a skin of blackness" which they still carry. But if they assimilate to Mormonism and stop living their Indigenous lifeways, they will have their curse of dark skin lifted and they'll return to their original state as a pure, white, and attractive people again.  collage by nicholas b jacobsen i won’t say much, I think the video says enough
I don't know this video’s name yet. I'm not even sure it is done The video was arranged a few months ago, the audio was arranged over 3 years ago This audio has been in my phone all those years, while in shuffle it has come on a lot in those months, so maybe it was ready to come out. I also want to acknowledge the vast influence Latter Day Labia's work has had on me and this piece and to appreciate the work she does in that valuable archive 💙  Nephi preparing to cut off Laban's head, an illustration for the Book of Mormon On Sunday June 12, 2022, thirty-one white men as members of a U.S. American white nationalist and neo-fascist hate group called Patriot Front loaded up their weapons, shields, and selves into a Uhaul to go terrorize a northern Idaho Pride event. Six of these men are from Utah and ten of them are said to be Mormon.
In 2014, the second leading cause of death in Utah for people 10 to 24 was suicide, which is higher than the national average. LGBTQ youth are at least three times more likely than heterosexual youth to attempt suicide and about four times more likely to make a medically serious suicide attempt. At least 40% of the 5,000 youth who are unsheltered in Utah are LGBTQ and 60% from Mormon homes. Some folks "wonder" if the history of anti-queer violence in Utah and Mormonism has influenced these young men who travelled to Idaho to commit hate-based anti-queer violence. I don't. I know that Mormonism is a deep source of anti-queer murderous rhetoric. And as a Lafferty brother from "Under the Banner of Heaven" says, the religion, "breeds dangerous men." At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the main character, Nephi, is commanded by God to murder a leader named Laban. Nephi is told by God, "Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief." Thus, from the very beginning of Mormondom murder has been an acceptable practice when done in the preservation of righteousness, like protecting the world from the gay agenda and the "national suicide" Mormon leaders teach will come from "one generation of homosexual marriages." Jacob Smith on Twitter claims that "Maybe if you’d really pay attention to the talks given and the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you would know that there isn’t any anti gay doctrine." Well, I also read through some talks and found a lot of anti-LGBTQIA2s doctrine. And much of it encourages suicide, physical violence, and murder against queer people. Here's a timeline of anti-queer openly violent rhetoric from this church (including some anti-queer "national suicide" fear mongering which directly aligns with "white genocide" rhetoric from white-nationalist groups like Patriot Front and Mormon anti-queer activists like Ayla "Wife with a Purpose" Stewart & the DezNat folks: “Illicit intercourse shall be punished with death.” Future Prophet, George Q. Cannon, 1857 The only way to stop homosexuality, this "filthy…nameless crime," was through “the destruction of those who practice them … if a little nest of them were left ... they would soon corrupt others" - Mormon President George Q. Cannon, 1897 General Conference, “I would like to hear a little more musket fire (against queers) from this temple of learning.” - Apostle Jeffery R. Holland to BYU faculty in 2021 “For homosexuality, (the Old Testament punishment) was death." - J. Reuben Clark 1957 Gen Con. “Sexual sins are ‘most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost.’ (Alma 39:5)” "Better dead clean, than alive unclean.” “Many (a) faithful Latter-day Saint parent…has sent (a child) into the world with the direction: ‘I would rather have you come back in a pine box with your virtue than return alive without it’” - Bruce R. McConkie, “Mormon Doctrine,” 1958 "Molesters, rapists, killers, homosexuals ... are emotionally sick and disabled creatures. ... They are waiting. They are hunting. They are seeking .... The deviates prowl that jungle." - Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Church specialist on homosexuality, Deseret News editorial, 1961 “There are moves… to ease up on…homosexuals and other deviates…This is one of the greatest evidences of apostasy of mankind…They which commit such things are worthy of death.” - Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Gen Con, 1965 “We are constantly pressured to understand and help murderers, rapists, thieves and now the 'poor, sick, misunderstood homosexual.' ... The believers of the Bible know what the Bible has to say of homosexuals, and that it states the penalty is death for this act." - Deseret News, letter to the editor, 1966 “Homosexuality was made a capital crime in the Bible (Lev. 20:13) and the wage of sin is death. (Romans 6:23).”- Apostle Mark E. Peterson, Church Specialist on Homosexuality, Gen Con 1969. “The glorious thing to remember is that [homosexuality] is curable … How can you say the door cannot be opened until your knuckles are bloody, till your head is bruised, till your muscles are sore? ... Your virtue is worth more than your life . . . preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives.” - Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, 1969 From 1971-1980, BYU President Dallin H. Oaks had security spying on BYU students which led to many queer student deaths by suicide. After a missionary told Apostle Packer that he’d punched his companion who was coming on to him, Packer said: “Well, thanks. Somebody had to do it, and it wouldn’t be well for a General Authority to solve the problem that way…You must protect yourself … Boys are to become men—masculine, manly men” - To Young Men Only, Boyd K Packer, 1976 Gen Con “We see evil and crime and carnality covering the earth. Liars and thieves and adulterers and homosexuals and murderers scarcely seek to hide their abominations.” Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, 1980 Gen Con. “Families are under a more serious attack today than at any time since the beginning of the world, with the possible exception of the days of Noah, because of birth control, abortion, and sterilzation, as well as homosexuality.” - Gen Authority Hartman Rector Jr., 1981 Gen Con. “Today we are aware of great problems in our society. The most obvious are sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, drug abuse, alcoholism, vandalism, pornography, and violence.” - Ezra Taft Benson, 1982 Gen Con "One generation of homosexual 'marriages' would depopulate a nation, and, if sufficiently widespread, would extinguish its people. Our marriage laws should not abet national suicide." - Apostle Dallin H. Oaks 1984 The AIDS epidemic is “a plague fueled by a vocal few who exhibit greater concern for civil rights than for public health, a plague abetted by the immoral … Where is Wisdom?” - Current Mormon Prophet Russell M. Nelson, 1992 Gen Con The three main dangers facing the church are “the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement,... and so-called scholars or intectuals.” - Apostle Boyd K. Packer, 1993 "Homosexual activity is a serious sin … sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost” - Mormon Church, True to the Faith, 2004 “Evil that used to be localized and covered like a boil is now legalized and paraded like a banner.” - Apostle Dallin H. Oaks 2004 “As a Family Law professor concerned about the dangers of legalizing same-sex marriage, I sometimes feel like Moishe the Beadle” who tried to warn his people of the dangers of Nazis, but “they refused to listen.” - BYU Law professor Lynn D. Wardle, 2007 World Congress of Families in Warsaw, Poland. "Others may not be free [of same-gender attraction] in this life" but "our bodies, feelings, and desires will be perfected in the next life so that every one of God’s children may find joy in a family." - "God Loveth His Children,” 2007 official church publication In 2009, current Prophet Russell M. Nelson warned of the dangers of “national suicide” as a result of marriage equality at the fifth World Congress of Families conference. “I know that the history of the church is not to seek apologies of to give them.” - Apostle Dallin H. Oaks in an in interview In January 2015 "Less than a year ago, right here in Washington, DC, my friend killed himself. He was Mormon and gay. You've gone on record that the church does not give apologies. Does religious freedom absolve you from responsibility in the gay Mormon suicide crisis?" asked Andrew Evans. "That's a question that will be answered on judgment day. I will be accountable to a higher authority for that." Apostle Dallin H. Oaks, 2016. “We are confronted by a culture of evil…(including the) phenomenon of lesbian, gay, and transgender lifestyles and values.” - President Dallin H. Oaks, 2019 BYU-Hawaii devotional “I would like to hear a little more musket fire (against queers) from this temple of learning.” - Apostle Jeffery R. Holland to BYU faculty in 2021 Days later BYU students drew pro-LGBTQ chalk art on the corner of campus and another BYU student poured water on the chalk and told onlookers "faggots go to hell". In 2021, Hank Smith, BYU religion professor called a gay BYU student Korihor on twitter. Korihor is a Book of Mormon anti-Christ prophet who was punished for his “wickedness,” by losing his speech and then trampled to death. The gay student then received death threats from others, but there was no public action against the professor by BYU.  Quotes from The Red Nation podcast episode: “Unsettling Mormonism”
“Mormonism has kinda this unique ideology, where it sees its origins here in this land vs. other sections of Christianity or Abrahamic traditions see their origins in places like the Middle East.” - Nick Estes “And to them this is actually their land. In that (Book of Mormon) frame of mind, ‘This was our land first, we’re just coming to claim it back.’ So, following that (ideology), Indigneous People are the original Mormons.” - Kobi “But it also so easily lines up with something like Zionism, the ideology of Zionism. I mean, it’s a land without a People, or a People without a land essentially.” - Nick Estes “(Mormons) believe that this (settler project) was Divinely Ordained:
“And despite this service (of the Mormon Battalion) the U.S. was still distrustful of the Church and to this day the canons above Salt Lake remain as they were then–aimed at the city, not in defense of it.” - Jacqueline Keeler in “Standoff: Standing Rock, the Bundy Movement, and the American Story of Occupation, Sovereignty, and the Fight for Sacred Lands.” “So it’s obvious that Mormonism is intertwined with the US settler-colonial project, but I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that it actually transcends just the US. So, you could even say it is implicated in U.S. Imperialism as well. Like, Richard Hansen who’s going to Guatemala and proposing the construction of a resort and to study the area and the ruins because they relate to the creation stories for Mormons.” - Jen Marley “Similarly (the Church) owns the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii and has since the ‘60’s. It’s the place that the majority of tourists go to learn about Hawaiian culture, they learn from a Mormon-owned and Mormon-curated space and so (the El Mirador resort) would essentially be just another one of those.” - nic “The whole BYU department of archeology was started and actually the whole Meso-American archeology as an academic profession was started by Mormons trying to find proof that the Book of Mormon was real. So that has sent out countless archeologists, myself included, in this like settler-colonialism taste for adventure.” - Kobi “It sounds like Ancient Aliens.” - Nick Estes “It’s Ancient Aliens, except its Mormons” - Jen Marley “We know the role of the Catholic Church in all this, but there’s also the role of the LDS Chruch in this, assimilating children, taking them from their families, coercing mothers to give up their children at childbirth–it’s a form of genocide. The removal of children from one group and the placement into another, it’s the legal definition of genocide. And it happened (the Lamanite Student Placement Program) like literally nine years after the genocide convention began.” - Nick Estes |
AuthorI am nicholas b jacobsen, an artist, researcher, historian, educator, and organizer. I am a trans-non binary Euro-settler raised in the Nuwu lands of so-called Utah. My family has been Mormon and Utahn for as long as either of those concepts have existed. My ancestors sacrificed everything--their identities, homelands, jobs, health, & safety to become Mormon, Utahn, U.S. American, & white--to settler their Zion. I take it as my personal responsibility to unsettle what my ancestors settled. and to help my fellow settlers do the same through writing, art, and community building. ArchivesCategories
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